Go to the 50th Reunion page for a copy of Tunlaw 50 and a few reminders of why you must come home in September!

February 21, 2015Nelson Ernest, 91, of Stroudsburg, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, after a short stay in hospice care. Born Jan. 10, 1924, in Spruce Hill, Juniata County, he was the second son of the late Melvin J. Ernest and Maude (Kurtz) Ernest. Nelson was the loving husband of Martha (Scanlon) Ernest.

Nelson was born on the family farm and attended a one room schoolhouse, then Port Royal High School. He served with the Merchant Marines during World War II in the South Pacific. After the war, he graduated from both Maryville College, Tennessee, and the University of Michigan, earning a master’s degree in music education.

He became the head of the music department for the North Plainfield, N.J., public school system where he taught instrumental music and led the marching band for 42 years. In addition, Nelson enjoyed playing French horn with the Westfield, N.J., community band; East Stroudsburg University Orchestra; and the Stroudsburg Centennial Band.

He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Plainfield, N.J, where he was a church elder and sang in the choir. In addition Nelson arranged music and played French horn in a church quartet. Recently, he attended the Stroudsburg Methodist Church.

Upon retirement, Nelson became a docent at Carnegie Hall in New York. He and Martha traveled extensively both in the United States and abroad, and spent summers at their cottage in Pocono Pines that he built with his son. His true joy in life was spending time with his family.

In addition to his wife, Martha, Nelson is survived by his daughter, Miriam Bandfield of Marion, Iowa; daughter Cynthia Ernest of Pawtucket, R.I,; and his son, Timothy Ernest of Stroudsburg; daughter-in-law Wendy Ernest and son-in-law Peter Bandfield; his grandchildren: Laura, Jesse and Anna Bandfied; Jessica Matthews; and Jennifer Wenner and husband Jason; and great-granddaughter Macey Wenner.

“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” A.A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh said that. And our own Winnie the Hartpence is a perfect example of that put to action. YOUR REUNION COMMITTEE IS ORGANIZING. And we have great news.

You can now mark your calendars, arrange for dog sitters, save up your travel reward miles and get motivated for THE BIG ONE! Yes, the North Plainfield High School Fiftieth Reunion Celebration is in the works.

Saturday, September 19th 2015 – 6:00 p.m.Somerset Hills Hotel in Warren, NJ. Good food, plenty of surprises and time to reconnect with old friends. Note: This is NOT the hotel where we celebrated our 45th. It is prettier, statelier and roomier…just like us.

Sunday, September 20th 2015 – 11:00 a.m.
Sunday Brunch at Heteji House, on Farragut Place, just behind the “bicycle hill” at East End School.

For those of us who want to make a relaxing weekend out of it, the committee has arranged for a large block of rooms at the hotel attractive, reduced rates.

There will be many bits of news coming your way, with a great many memory treats to help you look forward to attending this long awaited event. We encourage you to visit this site often. Make it a favorite.

We will also have a new Facebook Group, NPHS Class of ’65 Reunion for you to join in sharing some of your own memories. Make NPHS1965.com a favorite, and we’ll keep the home fires burning.

Mr. Gibbs was born July 19, 1915 in Saugus, Mass., the son of Blanche ( Petts) and Edward Gibbs, Jr. He resided at the Taylor Community in Laconia for ten years before moving to the Meredith Bay Colony Club, Meredith in 2011.
Mr. Gibbs received his A. B. from Harvard University in 1937 and his Ed.M. from Harvard University Graduate School of Education in 1949. In 1938, Mr. Gibbs was a social studies teacher at Saugus (Mass.) High School and was the Director of Guidance in 1941. He served in the U. S. Army during WWII, entering as a private on the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor. He served in North Africa and Italy where he was directly commissioned a second lieutenant. Mr. Gibbs was awarded the bronze star and mustered out of the service as a first lieutenant in 1946.

Mr. Gibbs returned to his guidance position at Saugus High School. In 1951, he became principal of the Tilton-Northfield High School in Tilton, N.H. and in 1952 was principal of Attleboro (Mass.) High School. In 1955, Mr. Gibbs became principal of South Plainfield (N.J.) High School and in 1956, he became vice-principal of North Plainfield (N.J.) High School and principal in 1958. He was active in the New Jersey Association of High School Principals, serving as president in 1969. He retired from education in 1974.

Mr. Gibbs joined two of his brothers in the manufacture of endless belts at Arthur S. Brown Manufacturing Company in Tilton, N.H. and was Chairman of the Board there until retiring in 1983.

Mr. Gibbs was president of the Saugus, Massachusetts Teachers Association in 1947, was president of the Saugus Community Y.M.C.A. in 1949, a member of the New Jersey Association of Secondary School Principals, serving as president in 1969 and the Plainfield (N.J.) Area Y.M.C.A. from 1969-1970. He was a former trustee of the , Belle Peabody Brown Foundation, Tilton, N.H., a former director of the Belknap Mill Society, Laconia, N.H. and a member of the Gilford Community Church, Gilford, N.H.

Survivors include two sons, Edward “Ted” Gibbs IV and his wife, Ynette, of Pacific Beach, Washington and David Gibbs and his wife, Cheryl, of Algonquin, Illinois; daughter, Orry Gibbs of Laconia, N.H.; a step-daughter, Cyndy Weeks, her husband, Larry, and family of Pinehurst, North Carolina and family; two grandchildren, Edward “Ward” Gibbs V, and Geoffrey B. Gibbs; a brother, Charles Gibbs, of Franklin, N.H.; a sister, Alice Head, of Epsom, N.H. and many nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gibbs was predeceased by his second wife of twenty-five years, Beatrice M. (Gosselin) Gibbs, who died in 2002, by his first wife of thirty-four years and mother of his children, Violet O. (Arnold) Gibbs, who died in 2009, by three brothers, Berthier Gibbs, Walter Gibbs, and, Ralph Gibbs, and by a sister, Dorothy Nelson.

I’m totally stumped! I even opened up a directory on my Mac with copies of all the yearbook photos and compared them to this image on another monitor. I narrowed it down to perhaps four good guesses but………

Email Greg if you know who this? Who ever it is he looks a lot younger than 65 years old!

The NPHS Class of 1965 community was shocked and dismayed to learn the news of Joe Retto’s sudden death at his home on Tuesday May 22nd. Joe suffered a massive heart attack.

It deeply saddens me to lose a friend such as Joe. Like many of us I lost track of many NPHS classmates as Carole and I moved around the country and to the Netherlands. It wasn’t until we returned to the U.S. in 1993 and were invited to help with the Reunion Committee that we were able to get to know Joe again.

While I know many people, I don’t know too many who are kinder and as decent as Joe. It was always a pleasure to speak with him and he was always interested in the opinions of others without being judgmental.

Being one of his clients at Autosport Honda was a pleasure because I knew that Joe would treat me fairly and honestly. That is probably why he was so successful in the business. Joe treated everyone the same, he was, in business and in life, a “Class Act.”

Joe leaves behind many friends, family and the love of his life, Lynn Papp Retto. That’s not hyperbole, Joe told me one day just this past January that marrying Lynn was the best thing he had ever done. Joe and Lynn were looking forward to his retirement, doing some traveling as well as rebuilding more classic cars.

I know that Joe’s brother Jerry and the many classmates who live in the NJ/PA area will take care of Lynn and pray that she continues to stay strong.

If you would like to send Lynn a personal message simply send me an email and I’ll forward you her mailing address.

Bob D’Amico

Obituary

Joseph Retto, age 65, died suddenly on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at his home in Williams Twp., PA. He was born in Brooklyn and had lived in North Plainfield and Flemington for many years before moving to Williams Twp., PA.

Joe was the Director of Fixed Operations for Autosport Honda in Bridgewater for 27 years.

He served in the United States Army.

Joe enjoyed buying, selling, driving and fixing up classic cars. He was one of the founders of Somerville Car Cruise Night. He was a hard worker who enjoyed antiquing and flea markets.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn Papp Retto; his brother, Jerry Retto; his son, Rich Williams and his wife, Roseanne; his daughters, Kimberly Robb and her husband, Joel and Lauren Petchonka and her husband, David and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 26th from 3 to 6 pm at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung. At 5 pm there will be an opportunity to share remembrances of Joe. Cremation is private.

Jean Shepherd was the night time voice of WOR radio – back in the day. His yarns about growing up in “Hohmand, (Hammond) Indiana were famous. His most famous story was turned into the classic movie, A Christmas Story. “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

There is a whole collection of Shepherd’s stuff on YouTube.

In this video Shepherd extols on the “beauty” of Route 22, calling it “the slob road of America.” You will see shots of places that are still thriving on Route 22 as well as several that are long gone.

Richard Harrison Griffith, 64, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 after a long illness. A long time resident of North Plainfield, he graduated from North Plainfield High School in 1965. “Dick” served in the U.S. Army stateside and in Germany, attaining the rank of Sergeant E-5. He was a member of the American Legion Post #265 in North Plainfield. For a period of his life, Dick resided in Englehart, Ontario Canada moving back to the U.S. in the early eighties. After receiving an honorable discharge and various commendations from the U.S. Army, he worked in the insurance business as well as the building materials field. Dick was a long time employee of Jaeger Lumber. An avid outdoorsman, Dick was affectionately known as “Ze Woodsman” and the “Fishin’ Magician.” He was a master fly fisherman and extremely knowledgeable in all areas of hunting and fishing. Keeping with his affinity to the outdoors, Dick became an excellent skier later on in life.

His father, John J. Griffith and his mother, Harriette Harrison Griffith predeceased him. Surviving is his brother, William A. Griffith and his wife, Marilyn; 2 nephews, John J. and his wife, Nicole, Nicholas Griffith; his two great nephews, Brody Harrison Griffith and Vaughn Parker Griffith, whose company he enjoyed immensely, also will remember him.

As per his last wishes, there will be no viewing. A memorial service and drumming is planned for the evening of the Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, 2010 at the Griffith’s home in North Plainfield.